Victoria was a natural caregiver. She was a wonderful big sister to her six younger siblings—she cherished her rescue dog, Zen, and volunteered at a local animal shelter. Our beautiful daughter was vivacious, independent, and smart beyond her years.
Her smile was like the sun shining. But that all changed, slowly and almost imperceptibly, until she was gone. It is hard to believe that it has been almost 10 years since we lost Victoria to a drug overdose at just 18 years old.
When she passed away on June 6, 2015, our world was shattered. I was devastated and tried to understand a situation that just didn't make sense. Victoria kept a diary in her bedroom, which she filled with drawings and everything she wouldn't—or couldn't—tell us in person.
She expressed feelings of loneliness and frustration. She wrote of broken hearts and broken friendships. And she wrote about using drugs to dull her pain.
By the time Victoria entered high school, the girl who used to love school dreaded going. She started skipping classes and her grades dropped dramatically. Although we attributed Victoria's behavior to being a typical teenager, we sent her to a psychiatrist for professional medical advice.
The psychiatrist diagnosed her with anxiety, and prescribed medication. When Victoria was still acting out months later, the psychiatrist increased her dosage. It was still no match for her ongoing mental health struggles.
The smart and loving girl with everything to live for spiraled into drug.